Thread-advancing device



May 18, 1948. H. J. McDERMOTT THREAD-ADVANCING DEVICE} Fil ed Nov. 3, 1945 3 Sheets-Spot 1 IN VEN TOR y 8, 1948. H. J. M DERMOTT THR'EAD-ADVANCING DEVICE Filed Nov. 3, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

May' 18, 1948.

H\\J. MDERMOTT -THREAD-ADVANCING DEVICE Filed Nov. :5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV iwdamw Patented May 18, 1948 THREAD-ADVANCING nnvrca Henry J. McDermott, Collingdale, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington,

DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application November 3, 1945, Serial No. 626,527

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to thread-advancing reels and it is particularly concerned with facilitating the removing of the thread from the dis- The principal object of the invention is to provide a, thread-advancing reel with an auxiliary device for winding upon its periphery the thread discharged from the end of the reel. The device rotates at a peripheral speed approximately the same as the peripheral speed of the reel either in the same or opposite direction. Preferably its peripheral speed is somewhat greater than that of the reel but it may be the same or even somewhat less for reasons stated hereinafter. An ancillary object is to so construct the auxiliary device that the thread wound thereon can readily be removed by the operator at his convenience at any time subsequent to the removal and transferring operation. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

The invention is applicable to all forms of thread-advancing reels which have movable thread-carrying means, such as bars, rods, belts or tapes, disposed peripherally thereof, and means for imparting motion to the thread-carrying means for effecting advance of the thread axially of the reel periphery. The reel may comprise two sets of interdigitating, rotating bars, one set of which is mounted rotatably on an axis eccentric and inclined to the axis of the other. It may comprise two concentric, rotatable sets of interdigitating bars forming the rotating periphery of the reel and means for imparting movement to one or both sets of such bars to cause inward and outward as well as axial relative movement of the bars. It may comprise belts, bands, or tapes all of which have a course running continuously in the periphery of the reel from the thread-receiving to the thread-discharge end of the reel, the belts, bands or tapes returning along paths disposed inwardly of the reel periphery so they make no contact with the thread during their return travel. The invention is applicable to reels which are supported from ongs end as well as those supported from both en I In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is an elevation view of a reel having the device of the invention associated therewith in section,

Figures 2 to 6 are side and end elevations illustrating successive steps in operating the device of the present invention, a

Figure 'l is a. longitudinal section of a reel. showing a modified construction of the device ofthe present invention associated therewith,

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention as applied to a cantilever form of reel, and

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention as applied to a cantilever form of reel.

In Figure 1, the invention is illustrated as applied to a reel comprising two sets of threadcarrying bars, 2 and 3 which rotate together and have outer surfaces which constitute the reel periphery. The reel is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 4 (which may either be fixed or rotatable) and the supporting structure for the bars comprises a flange or disk-like plate 5 which rotates in unison with the reel and carries an annular friction plate 5a forming part of a clutch. The detailed construction for driving the reel and actuating the bars to effect advance of the thread is not shown since it may take any conventional form and reference may be had to United States Patent 2,247,123 and to applications for United .States Letters Patent Serial Numbers 496,543,

filed July 20, 1943, nOW Patent 2,396,297; 508,174,

0 filed October 29, 1943, now Patent 2,403,031;

521,611, filed February 9, 1944, now Patent 2,386,249; 594,730, filed May 19,1945, now Patent 2,419,605; and 597,108, filed June 1, 1945, now Patent 2,404,005, for various suitable internal constructions for actuating the bars.

A bearing sleeve 6 fits around the shaft 4. An offset bearing 1 is supported by a web 8 integrally connecting it to a sleeve 9 rotatably and slidably mountedon the bearing sleeve 6. An annular gear I0 is secured to the flanged plate ll. rotatably supported on a bushing l2 held in place on sleeve 9 by a split ring i3. The plate ll carries an annular clutch facing member Hi.

The offset bearing 1 rotatably supports a short shaft [5 to which gears I6 and I! are keyed or otherwise secured, gear i6 being in mesh with the internal teeth of ring gear Ill. Gear I1 is in mesh with a gear I8 keyed or otherwise secured to a sleeve l9 which is rotatably mounted on a bushing 20 around sleeve 9. A collar 2| keyed or otherwise secured to sleeve 9 and held in axial position by a split ring 22 serves to hold the entire gear assembly upon the sleeve 9 in cooperation with the split ring l3. A washer 23 is slidably mounted on sleeve 6 and a spring 24 normally urges the assembly carried by sleeve 9 to the right. 1

A rotatable member has its hub 26 secured to sleeve IQ for rotation therewith. The member 25 serves to house the driving mechanism and has a flared end 21 which extends under an overhanging portion of the reel, such as the annular rib 28 of the reel supporting structure. An annular ridge 29 may be provided to prevent thread from sliding off the outer end of member 25.

The shaft 4 is shown fixedly mounted in a bore of the support 30 and a stationary hood or shroud 3| is secured to the support so that it protects the parts shown therewithin. The shroud 3| has also the additional function of supporting the hand lever 32 pivotally at 33. The lever 32 has 9. lug or finger 34 at one end projecting into a recess 35 within the collar 2|. In

the position shown, the clutch faces 5a and ii are in engagement, but disengagement may be effected by pushing the outer end of lever 32 down, which movement shifts the sleeve 9 with the member 25 and the gearing carried on the sleeve to the left. Then the finger 36 may be swung up into the notch 37 to hold the clutc plates out of engagement.

The method of making use of the invention is shown in Figures 2 to 6. In Figure 2, the thread 'I is shown schematically proceeding about the reel in a helical course and an accumulated ring of the thread is shown built up at R at the discharge end of the reel. This accumulation R may vary considerably in size from two or three up to several score or more turns before finally falling ofi the end of the reel periphery onto the rotatable member 25 as shown. Sometimes the thread, particularly when dry or nearly dry, will not accumulate, but will fall directly upon the rotatable member 25. As shown, the member 25 is rotated in a direction opposite to that Q terconnecting strip S will remain at about the same position at all times, except for fluctuations therein caused by the discontinuity of the reel periphery, until the thread has built up a winding of sufficient thickness to cause an increase of the linear speed of subsequent convolutions winding about the member 25. When this occurs, the strip S will slowly move about the reel in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 and the convolutions of thread will gradually be removed from the discharge end of the reel to give the appearance of Figure 4:. .At any time after the thread has started to wind upon the rotatable member 25, an operator can easily catch hold of the thread along the strip S which is either fairly stationary or moves slowly about the reel. In Figure 5, this is shown as being accomplished by a rod or hook 38, though he may instead insert a finger under the strip S. After catching the thread, the operator can draw it out with his finger, break it either by hand or with a knife, and wrap the leading end coming from the reel periphery to the next handling device, such as another thread-advancing reel, a winding device, or a. winding and twisting device. Then lever 32 is pressed downwardly to stop member 25, and any accumulated windings, such as B, may be removed therefrom at the convenience of the operator.

4 b The peripheral speed of the rotatable mem ber 25 may be somewhat less than that of the reel in which event it may be necessary for the operator to wait until suflicient winding thickness is built upon the member 25 to impart the necessary linear speed to subsequent convolutions and thereby to compensate for or to exceed the difference in speed of the reel periphery and of the periphery of member 25 before seizing the thread for transfer. Or, if desired, several convolutions of the thread may be removed from the end of the reel before seizing the strip S for transferring it to the next device, in which event, the waiting period is a matter only of. the few seconds required for the leading convolution to again approach the end of the reel at which time the strip S can readily be seized. Preferably, however, the peripheral speed of the rotatable member 25 is somewhat greater than that of the reel so that no waiting is required. The relative peripheral speeds between'the reel and member 25 can be predetermined by appropriately designing the assembly comprising gears i0, i6, i1 and N.

The member 25 may be rotated in the same direction as the reel instead of as shown in Figures 1 to 6. Again, as in the case of opposite rotation, when the winding speed of the thread on the member 25 exceeds the peripheral speed of the reel, the strip S moves in a' direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the reel Deriphery. As in the former case, the peripheral speed of the member 25 may be the same as, or somewhat less or greater, but is preferably somewhat greater, than the peripheral speed of the reel.

While it has heretofore been difficult to seize the thread on a thread-advancing reel preliminary to transferring it to other handling devices, and such difllculties increase tremendously as the reels are operated at increased speeds, it will be seen that the present invention provides a strip S proceeding over the discharge end of the reel periphery either in a relatively stationary position or moving about the reel in a relatively slow motion which is increased by only a relatively small amount when the speed of the reel is doubled or even tripled. The stationary or slow motion condition of the strip S enables easy seizure regardless of the speed of the reel.

Figure 7 shows a form of reel supported from one end in a suitable bearing 39 on the frame 40.

The construction of the reel is fundamentally the same as that shown in Figures 5 and 6 of application Serial No. 508,174 (now Patent 2,403,031) mentioned above except that the shaft 4| is hollow and the shaft or rod 42 held stationary in bracket 43 by a set screw 44 extends through shaft 4! and supports the rotatable member 25 and its driving mechanism. A concentric set of bars 2b are formed by suitably slotting radially an integral cylindrical cage member 3b having an outwardly extending, flange 4b. The member 3b is secured by cap screws 8b to the supporting flange 61) whose hub is secured and keyed to the end of the hollow shaft 4|. This shaft is mounted for rotation within a stationary sleeve 30b suitably secured within a supporting bearing .38. The end of the sleeve 30b adjacent the hub of flange 6b has a peripheral surface Mb which.

is eccentric and askew with respect to the axis of shaft 4| and carries a skew plate 22b on a ball bearing I8b. A bushing 32b is carried by an adjacent peripheral surface of the sleeve 30b, which surface is eccentric but not askew with respect to the axis of shaft 4|, the amount of eccentricity being substantially the same as that of the surface I4b.

A pair of spaced flexible and resilient spiders ||b flt about the bushing and are held in proper axial relation with respect thereto by suitable washers or rings, such as I 61). The flexible spiders are secured to either side of the inwardly extending portions 45b of the movable bars 51) by means of the bolts 20b and nuts 2|b. Upon each of the bolts 20!) is mounted a collar 331) which extends through an aperture 34b in the skew plate 221). Between each of the collars 33b and the corresponding head of the bolt, there is a washer 351) against which a spring 361) is arranged to press, a pin 31b projecting from the head of the bolt 20b serving to guide the spring and to prevent its dislocation. A flexible sealing membrane 25b is arranged to protect the working parts against the entrance of corrosive or abrasive materials. Gear 46 drives shaft 4| for operating the reel.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of driving mechanism for the rotatable member 25. ,Such parts as are practically identical with parts in Figure 1 are given the same reference characters. Rod 42 in Figure 7 correspondswithshaft 4 in Figure l and carries a similar assemblage of gears which, however, are of bevel type in Figure 7. The sleeve 9a has a projection 8a supporting a stud shaft |5a which carries bevel gears Mia and Ila connected together for simultaneous rotation. Gear |6a engages bevel gear Illa which carries the clutch plate |4 adapted to engage the clutch plate 50. secured to the flange 612. Gear Ila engages bevel gear |8a which transmits its motion to member 25. The shroud 3| is secured to a collar 41 fixedly secured to the outer end of shaft 42. The flared end 21 of the member 25 extends into a recess 48 formed in the flange 5b.

Figure 8 shows a modified arrangement as applied to a form of reel supported from one end only. The reel itself comprises two generally cylindrical members 49 and 50. Member 49 may be termed the concentric member is mounted concentrically upon and for rotation with the hollow drive shaft 5| as by pins 52 and has a periphery comprised of a plurality of bar members 53. Member 50 which may be termed the eccentric member is rotatably mounted on bear.-

ing 54 with its axis slightly offset from and inclined to that of member 49 and has a periphery comprisin a plurality of bar members 55 disposed alternately between bar members 53 of concentric member 49. The bars 55 may be provided with an internal annular reinforcing ring 56 near the discharge end of the reel and an annular flexible seal 51, such as of rubber, or the like may be secured fluid-tight to both the ring 56 and the adjacent internal surface of member 49. The shaft 5| has an enlarged portion fitting within a bearing in frame 40 and is driven by gear 46. A set screw holds shaft 42 in fixed position in the bracket 43. As in Figure 7, shaft 42 extends through the hollow reel shaft (5| in Figure 8) and supports the rotatable member 25 and the driving structure therefor. The same reference characters are applied to these parts as to the corresponding parts of Figures 1 and '7 and no further specific description is thought necessary except to point out that gear l8 of Figure 1 is replaced by an internal ring gear l8c. This results in driving the member 25 in the same direction as the reel. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the gear assembly for driving the rotatable member 25 is surrounded by the reel bars with the reinforcing ring 56 enclosing the assembly. Thisenclosure is aided by the seal 51 and by the annular flexible seal 58 having fluid-tight engagement with the outer end of ring 56 and extending inwardl therefrom so that it overhangs and makes sliding contact with the flared portion 21 of member 25. Also, the inwardly-extending flange of member 25 is cupped or recessed to at least partially surround the shroud 3|. This arrangement provides compactness and protection of the driving mechanism for the member 25 against foreign fluids, vapors, or dust, and is particularly valuable when the reel is to be used for conveying threads while subjecting them to gases, liquids or vapors, which may have a corrosive nature.

Figure 9 shows a modification of theinvention applied to a reel of the same construction as Figure 8. However, in Figure 9, there is no clutch provided to disengage the gears for driving the rotatable member 25 from the rotating parts of the reel. Consequently, in this embodiment, the member 25 is rotated all the time when the reel is driven. As shown, a pair of lock-nuts 59 replace all of the parts from collar 2| outwardly on the shaft #12, and the plate II is seecured directly to the member 59 of the reel. As in Figure 8, the member 25 rotates in the same direction as the reel.

The invention is applicable to the handling of yarns, tows, threads, or strands of filamentary material regardless of the size or diameter of such strands. I

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-' charge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout an'd means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed app'roxr mately the same as that of the reel.

2. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a mtatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed greater than that of the reel.

3. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed approximately the same as that of the reel and in the opposite direction.

4. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery ,z than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it there-about, and means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed greater than that of the reel and in the same direction.

5. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed greater than that of the reel and in the opposite direction.

6. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, means for rotating the member relative to the reel, and clutch means for interrupting operation of the means for rotating the member. 7

7. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, said reel being supported from one end only, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel.

8. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing reel, said reel being supported from one end only with its discharge end away from its support, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel.

9. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel having movable strand-carrying means disposed peripherally thereof and means for imparting motion to the strand-carrying means for efiecting advance of the strand axially of the reel periphery comprising means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery of the reel, a rotatable annular member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel.

10. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel having movable strand-carrying means disposed peripherally thereof and means for imparting motion to the strand-carrying means for eifecting advance of the strand axially of the reel periphery comprising means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery of the reel, said reel being supported from one end only with its discharge end away from its support, a rotatable annular member having a, smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving 8 the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel.

'11. Apparatus for handling strands of fila- Lmentary material comprising a thread-storing,

thread-advancing reel having a plurality of interdigitating bars forming a strand-carrying surface, means for rotating the bars, means for imparting relative motion to the bars to elfect thread-advancing motion axially of the reel, an annular rotatable member movable independently of, and having a smaller diameter than, the bars and projecting from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel.

12. Apparatus for handling strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-storing, thread-advancing reel having a plurality of interdigitating bars forming a strand-carrying surface, said reel being supported from one end only, means for rotating the bars, means for imparting relative motion to the bars to eflect thread-advancing motion away from the supported end of the reel, a rotatable member having an annular strand-receiving portion projecting from the discharge end of the reel, said member comprising a flared portion having its extreme edge positioned back of and within a portion of the discharge end of the surface of the reel, and means for rotating the member relative to the reel. 7

13. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing device, a plurality of elements extending generally longitudinally of the device for carrying the strands, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof and for imparting relative motion between the elements to convey the strand continuously through a helical path' about the elements, a rotatable member adjacent the discharge end of the device, said member being separate from the strand-carrying elements of the device and having a periphery for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, the member being mounted with a portion of its periphery extending into the plane of the discharge end of the device and being inwardly offset from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member relative to the device.

14. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing device, a plurality of elements extending generally longitudinally of the device for carrying the strands, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof and for imparting relative motion between the elements to convey the strand continuously through a helical path about the elements, a rotatable member adjacent the discharge end of the device, said member being separate from the strand-carrying elements of the device and having a smaller periphery than that of the device for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, the member being mounted with a portion of its periphery extending into the plane of the discharge end of the device and being inwardly ofiset from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member relative to the device.

15. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing device, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof.

an annular rotatable member adjacent the dis charge end of the device having a smaller periphments extending; generally longitudinally ofthe ery than that of the device for receiving the 1 strand and for windingit thereabout, the member being mounted with a vportlonjof its periphery extending into the plane of the dischargeend of thedevlce and being. inwardly offset from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device for carrying the strands, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof and for imparting relative motion between the elements to convey the strand continuously through a hell- -cal path about the elements, a rotatable member adjacent the discharge end of the device,

. said member being separate from the stranddevice, and means for rotating the'member at a peripheral'speed approximately the same as that of the'device. v I

16. Apparatus for handling continuous strands ments extending generally longitudinally of the to convey the strand continuously through a helical path about the elements, a rotatable. member projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel, said member beingseparate from thestrandcarrying elements or the'reel and hav n a smaller periphery than that of the reel forre- .ceiving the strand and for winding it thereabout,

lcarrying elements of the device and having a .10;

smaller periphery than that of the device for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout,

' the member being'mounted with a large diameter portion of its outer periphery extending into the plane of the discharge end of the device and ,being inwardly oflset from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member. relative to the device.

20. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-storage, thread-advancing device, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof, an

- annular rotatable member adjacent the discharge endofthe device having a smaller periphery than that of the device for receiving the strand and and means for rotating the member relative to 1'1. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread advancing reel, aplurality of elements extending generally longitudinally of the reel for carrying the strands, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof and for imparting relative motion between the elements to convey the strand continuously through a helical path about the elements, a rotatable member having a smaller periphery than that of the reel projecting axially from the discharge end of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it thereabout, said member being separate from the strand-carrying elements of the reel and having a flared end portion extending back of and within the periphery of the reel at its discharge end, said end portion flaring outwardly toward the reel, and means for rotating'the member relative to the reel. u

18. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a thread-stor- I age, thread-advancing device, aplurality of elements extending generally longitudinally of the device for carrying the strands, means for rotating the strand-carrying periphery thereof and for imparting relative motion "between the elements to convey the strand continuously through a helical path about the elements, a rotatable set from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member relative to the device;

19. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising 5 age, thread-advancing device, a plurality of ele-'- -stor-'- for winding it thereabout, the member being mounted with a large diameter portion ofits outer periphery extending into the plane of .the discharge end of the device and being inwardly offset from the outer circumference of the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member at a peripheral speed approximately the same as that of'the device.

a, 21. Apparatus for handling continuous strands of filamentary material comprising a threadstorage, thread-advancing'reel, a plurality of elements extending generally longitudinally of the reel for carrying the strands, means for rotatend of the reel, said member being separate from the strand-carrying elements of the reel and having a smaller periphery than that of the reel for receiving the strand and for winding it there'- about, the member being mounted with a large diameter portion of its outer periphery extending into the plane of the discharge end of the :device and being inwardly offset from the outer -tive tothe reel.

m Number circumference of'the discharge end of the device, and means for rotating the member rela- HENRY J. MCDERMOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STA ES PATENTS Name Date Hoeflnghoif May 28, 1935 Burkholder Feb. 6, 1940 Knebusch Aug. '13, 1940 Knebusch Jan. '7, 1941 Torrence Sept. 2, 1941 McDermott' Oct. 9, 1945 Stanley July 2, 1946 Stanley July 16, 1946 

